A DEVELOPING business park could expand further under ambitious plans tabled by the Welsh Development Agency.

The 42-acre (17 hectare) Hawarden Business Park, which adjoins Hawarden Airport and the Airbus wing-manufacturing plant, could grow further bringing more employment opportunities.

The WDA has applied to Flintshire County Council for outline permission to expand the park. To date, planning permission has been secured for the construction of a total of 450,000 sq ft of working space at the park. However, only one company - ALcontrol of Saltney - has decided to move to the park so far.

The park site is a former Second World War airbase acquired by the WDA which reclaimed the derelict site and which has invested £3.5m in providing the infrastructure services required by advanced technology companies.

The agency believes the park has outstanding potential to attract high quality companies because of its strategic location close to the A55 dual carriageway which gives fast access to the national motorway network and to seaports at Mostyn and Liverpool and airports at Manchester and Liverpool.

A WDA spokeswoman said: 'We believe that Hawarden Park can become a major asset to the local economy as an important centre for skilled employment.

'Our partnership with two leading private sector companies will develop one of the best located business sites in the region.'